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Lecture 2 Theories of Parent-Child Relations
Lecture 2 Theories of Parent-Child Relations
parent-child relations
Tomo Umemura
02.03.2016
Theories of parent-child relations
Overview for today
1. Guidelines for writing an introduction paragraph
2. Maccoby, E. E. (1992). The role of parents in the
socialization of children: An historical overview.
Developmental Psychology, 28, 1006-1017.
– Lecture & Discussions
3. Cox, M. J., & Paley, B. (2003). Understanding
families as systems. Current Directions in
Psychological Science, 12, 193-196.
– Lecture & Discussions
Introduction paragraph is due
on March 9th
Timetable:
• March 2: Possible topics for your paper
• March 2: Guidelines for writing introduction
paragraph
• March 7: APA format
• March 9: Introduction due
Topics for parent-child relations
Parent-Child
Relations
Topics for parent-child relations
2. Define constructs
– Especially important if constructs in your topic are not
commonly used in everyday language.
– You need to define: coparenting, triangulation, sensitive
parenting, democratic parenting
– Exception: you do not need to define: divorce, age, etc.
– Examples:
• Adolescents’ trust that their political leaders’ work for their citizens
(defined as “political trust”) does not necessarily come from their
evaluations of politics.
• Some children believe that other people are in general trustworthy.
Hereafter, this belief is referred to as “general social trust.”
Guidelines for writing introduction
paragraph
Mediation
A spurious relation
Parental
Practice ? Child Outcome
?
Moderation
Parental Child Outcome Parental
Practice Child Outcome
Practice
?
Maccoby, 1992
The role of parents in the socialization of children:
An historical overview
mother-father
mother-child father-child
Cox and Paley, 2003
Understanding families as systems
• Empirical finding: parents behave differently when the whole
family was together than when they were interacting one-on-
one with child
– E.g., couples were less hostile toward each other when child is
present.
• Coparenting: how parents interact together to take care of
their children
– Supportive (cooperative): help each other
– Undermining (competitive): blame on the partner's caregiving
behaviors
• E.g., father calling mother “pig” influences child calling mother “pig.”
– Triangulating: include the child into the fight
• Emotional-security theory (Cummings and Davies)
– Marital conflict between parents threatens child’s sense of
security in the family.
Cox and Paley, 2003
Understanding families as systems
3. Families need to adjust to disequilibrium (or
changes).
– Normative transitions
• Birth of a child, child entering school, etc.
– New parents are at increased risk for depression
– Nonnormative transitions
• Departure of spouse, entrance of new spouse, death of
family member
Cox and Paley, 2003
Understanding families as systems
1. Family as a whole
2. Mutual influences among family subsystem
3. Families need to adjust to disequilibrium (or
changes).
Homework